Cambodia to Launch Master Plan to Develop Tourism Industry

Cambodia is preparing for drawing up a master plan for development of the tourism industry, a senior government official told an annual summary meeting of the year 2000 on Wednesday.

Senior minister and Cabinet minister Sok An said that the government has been considering to make effective strategies to develop essential infrastructures in all tourism areas for sustainable development of tourism.

He said that development of human resources and improvement of tourism service are pivotal in attracting local and foreign tourists, so the Ministry of Tourism, relevant institutions and authorities will carry out training programs on tourism-related human resources such as language guides, good cooks. These units will also conduct a feasible study of hotel rooms requirements at the time of the future tourist growth.

The Tourism Ministry is to undertake a research on information and trend of the development of the region and global tourist markets in order to introduce an appropriate plan for tourist attraction, he added.

The Cambodian tourism has played a significant role in generating employment opportunities and helps alleviate poverty in the country, the senior minister said.

Cambodia received nearly half a million of foreign tourists, which increased by 27 percent in which 34 percent increased by air, and within the first semester of this year the number of the tourists has further increased by 41.14 percent due to the "Open- Sky" policy and maintaining security, stability and public order for tourists